Lead free pellets and FX Barrels

[greg]

Does anyone have experience with lead free (tin) pellets shooting through ST barrel? 
Specifically, those:
http://www.airgunsofarizona.com/Dynamic%20Pellets/Dynamic%20Pellets.html#TM2 
http://www.airgunsofarizona.com/Dynamic%20Pellets/Dynamic%20Pellets.html#PCP2
http://www.airgunsofarizona.com/Dynamic%20Pellets/Dynamic%20Pellets.html#XP2

I know the "party line" answer - "try on your gun" But would not want to waste time (or money, actually, considering they are like $25 for a tin of 400) if its been tried many times and is a lost cause.

Additionally, I am kind a surprised there is still no "good" lead free pellet. I would actually prefer that for hunting. The other day I got a squirrel, head on shot from Indy .22 ~14ft/lb energy at impact. Good head shot, instant kill, except the soft JSB 18.1 (which traveled from the head about 4 inches along the spine before getting lodged) looked like it was put through a meat grinder with large chunks missing. Wont take a shot like like that again, since I basically had to chuck a large portion of meat (doctor says don't feed lead to kids).

 

[Ted]

I have tried 5.52 and 5.54 Dynamics in my FX 400, Daystate Air Wolf and Edgun Matador R2. Groups were 4+ inches at 50 yards with the 400. Two inches with the Matador. And, just over an inch with the Air Wolf. Slow-motion footage revealed spiraling, erratic flight on nearly all shots from the 400. 50% with the Edgun. And 25% with the Air Wolf.

edit* And, in all cases, the 5.52's were more accurate than the 5.54.

 

[keysersoze]

I think there is a market for lead free pellets. They would need to be made from a softer material like Bismuth or tungsten matrix. I would like to see what a pellet made from Hevi-shot 13 would do. Maybe one day. 

 

[ssunsera]

The last lead mine in the us was closed about a year ago. Just saying.

 

[greg]

"Ted"I have tried 5.52 and 5.54 Dynamics in my FX 400, Daystate Air Wolf and Edgun Matador R2. Groups were 4+ inches at 50 yards with the 400. Two inches with the Matador. And, just over an inch with the Air Wolf. Slow-motion footage revealed spiraling, erratic flight on nearly all shots from the 400. 50% with the Edgun. And 25% with the Air Wolf.

Yeah, I kind of suspected that the smooth twist should have harder time, well, twisting harder pellets. Thanks for the time and disappointment-saving info, Ted. 

 

[Bobmart]

I'm wondering if copper plated pellets such as the Beeman Fts Copper Plated pellets have exposed lead after impact with a critter? Bob

 

[greg]

"Bobmart"I'm wondering if copper plated pellets such as the Beeman Fts Copper Plated pellets have exposed lead after impact with a critter? Bob

Absolutely. The copper film is extremely thin. This said, they also do horrible with my Indy. In fact, I observed the same effect shooting coppers as when I shoot cleaning felt pellets. The speed falls by ~50fps (!), and it takes 20 or more shots of lead to bring it back to normal.

 

[Bobmart]

That's good to know Greg. I seem to remember Ted saying that the Prod favored the copper plated pellets in his review. Bob

 

[Dan25]

"Additionally, I am kind a surprised there is still no “good” lead free pellet. I would actually prefer that for hunting. The other day I got a squirrel, head on shot from Indy .22 ~14ft/lb energy at impact. Good head shot, instant kill, except the soft JSB 18.1 (which traveled from the head about 4 inches along the spine before getting lodged) looked like it was put through a meat grinder with large chunks missing. Wont take a shot like like that again, since I basically had to chuck a large portion of meat (doctor says don’t feed lead to kids)."

One way of looking at pellet deformation on impact is that it dumps the energy into the target increasing damage as does tumbling you describe. Instant death for the critter is a good thing.

 

[greg]

No doubt, Dan, I meant to say I wont take similar head on shots where there is a risk of pellet reaching the meat of an already brain-dead critter. Will prefer broadside head shots.

Here is that shot, by the way through the scope cam: